Hoist



July 23, 1940. c, ERNST 2,208,968

HOIST Filed Oct. 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTO/Q.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 23, 1940 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOIST' ApplicationOctober 12, 1938, Serial No. 234,656

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hoistsor mechanisms, of thattype which, may be installed in basements for the purpose, among otheruses, of elevating filled ash and garbage 4 cans and other containers orobjects from the basement floor to a window or sidewalk opening or thelike place where the load is to be removed and for returning ordelivering emptied cans, containers or other objects to the floor.

.Many types and constructions of hoists or mechanisms have beenproposed, or are in use for such purpose. Such hoists usually have aplatform movable by suitable lifting or power means relatively to itssupporting means, but it often happens that, owing to restricted orconfined space or other reasons, the individual cans or objectscomprising the load can only be placed onor removed from the platformfrom a more or less limited position, thus making it awkard andvinconvenient to obtain maximum use and expeditious operation of, thehoist. Likewise when a load of several cans or objects are delivered bythe hoist toa window or opening it is awkward and diflicult to removethese cans or objects, since some of them are remote from the operatorat the outside of the window. The operator may, for example, have tostand on a sidewalk, and if the window or opening is of restricted size,it is difficult to reach in to manipulate and remove the cans or objectsfrom the far side of the platform.

vSome objects of the present invention are to provide a novel andimproved hoist, of simple, rugged compact and relatively inexpensiveconstruction with which each one a plurality of cans, containers orobjects constituting a load on the hoistplatform may besuccessively orselectively positioned at a point close to a window or opening for easyremoval therefrom with maximum accessibility and minimum effort andwithout first shifting the desired can or object on or relatively to theplatform in attaining this end; and also to provide a hoist upon which aplurality of cans or objects may be successively placed in differentrelative positions on the hoist platform from a restricted loading pointor limited space on the floor or other inside place, or from thesidewalk or other place outside.

Other objects are to construct a hoist which may be installed close to awall or in a restricted or confined area and upon which the cans orarticles may be loaded (or removed) one after another and distributedover the area of the hoist platform while operating from a place remotefrom the wall, or at the open or exposed side of the confined space, andwithout having to roll or shift the cans or articles over the platformto distribute them upon the same; also to this end to provide a hoisthaving a platform movable lengthwise along and rotatably mounted withreference to its support or column and in which the rotary movement ofthe platform is about the axis of its support and may be effected at orat any point between the ends of its travel; also to support theplatform in a simple and novel way to facilitate its movement lengthwiseof and its rotary movement relatively to or about its support, and alsoto construct a hoist having a platform which is well sustained againsttipping or binding due to any unbalanced disposition of the loadthereon, and in which the sustaining, or bracing means also constitutesmeans to facilitate the symmetrical spacing of the articles about thecenter of the hoist or platform so that the load is uniformlydistributed thereon.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing disclosure of an embodiment thereof, and its novel featureswill be pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of my improved hoist, showingthe platform there: of in its lower position, the hoist being installedin the basement of a building.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof, on line 2'2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical transverse central section through theplatform and adjacent parts of the hoist.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View, similar to Fig. 1, showing the platform inan elevated position.

In its general organization, my improved hoist comprises a stationaryupright column or standard, and a substantially horizontal platformmovable up and down. relatively to the column or standard. The columnextends through a hole in the platform and the latter is arranged torotate about the column, and means are provided for supporting and forraising and lowering the platform relatively to the column.

Since the hoist under consideration is particularly adapted for use inthe basements of apartment and other houses, stores or buildings, I haveillustrated the same in the embodiment shown as being installed in abasement wherein avertical, cylindrical column II] has its lower flangeor end I2 secured to the floor and its upper flange or end ll securedtoor adjacent the ceiling, as

for example to an I-beam or structural member I3 which, as shown, can beadditionally employed for the purpose of supporting and guiding a chainor cable [4 used for raising and lowering the hoist platform. Thisplatform, indicated at I8, is disposed horizontally and may be formed ofa substantially circular metal plate l9 having a marginal dependingflange 20. The platform, however, may be of any other shape andconstructed of other materials.

As shown, the upright column [0 extends centrally through the platformin a hole 2| therein so that the platform may be moved up and down withreference to the column from a position close to the floor, as shown inFig. l, to an elevated position at or opposite the place where it isdesired to remove articles from the platform, or upon which articles maybe placed to be lowered to the floor level.

In the arrangement illustrated, the column 10 is installed near a sidewall a of a basement, and in which a. window or opening bis formed at adistance from the floor. The lower edge or sill c of-the window b mayadvantageously be disposed approximately at the level of a side walk orthe like d, where, for example, it may be desired to discharge cans orcontainers C of ashes, garbage, or the like, or other articles, afterloading them upon the platform l8 from'the floor and elevating theplatform so that the horizontal, upper surface of the plate l9 thereofis positioned substantially in the plane of the window ledge c.

If desired, a ladder e may be mounted against the wall a, as an addedconvenience, to enable a person to ascend from the floor to the window band pass therethrough so as to manipulate and remove the cans C from thehoist to the sidewalk d after it has been raised, as described, and tothen return to the basement through the window after the load has beendischarged, to lower the platform.

' In order-to easily and smoothly support and guide the platform I8 inits movements up and down the column I 0, suitable means are providedwhich, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a suitable memberarranged to slide upon the column, such for example as a tubular sleeveor member 30, see particularly Fig. 3, the internal diameter of which issuch that, while free sliding movements of the same are permitted uponthe column In, lateral movement thereof is substantially prevented. Theupper end of the sleeve extends some distance above the platform, asshown in the drawings, while its lower end may bepositioned in operativerelation to and near the platform. In the arrangement shown, the lowerend of the sleeve 30 passes through the hole 2| in the platform to apoint somewhat below the latter.

Any suitable means may be provided for affording an operative connectionbetween the sleeve 30 and the platform l8 so that the latter may movewith the sleeve up and downthe column 1B, and may also be rotatedrelatively to the sleeve and column. For this purpose, I providesuitable anti-friction bearing and supporting means between the sleeve30 and the platform. These means may be arranged in any suitable manner.For example, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, I secure to the lower endof the sleeve 30 an annular ring or part which forms an annul'a'rshoulder upon which the lower ring or plate 36of' a ball bearing mayengage. The upper ring or race38 ofthe ball bearing is secured to theu'nderface' of the plate I!) of the platform so as to extend axiallyabout the sleeve 30. By this arrangement, the balls 39 of theanti-friction bearing supporting structure rotatably supports theplatform l8 so that it may be easily and smoothly turned or rotatedrelatively to the column i0 and to the sleeve 30.

By the arrangement described, the platform is supported by means of aball bearing structure upon the lower end of the sleeve 30, which takesthe weight of the platform and its load.

I may, when found desirable, provide additional supporting means for theplatform I8, such means further acting to brace and stiffen the platformagainst tipping and lateral strains. I show in the drawings, for thispurpose, an annular ring or member 3|, rotatably surrounding the sleeve30 at a distance above the platform I8, and to this member I secure theupper ends of a plurality of radially extending, diagonal spaced braces32. The lower ends of these braces 32 are fastened to the top face ofthe platform at a distance from. its axis. By the provision of thebraces 32 connected to the annular memberor ring 3| and the platform IS,the platform has adequate support and is prevented from tilting while inuse, even should an unbalanced load be disposed on the platform.

It will be obvious that in any position of the platform, the ring 3| canturn freely about the sleeve 30 and through its connection'with theplatform by the braces 32, a strong well braced structure is provided.

If desired, the ring or annular member 3] may be supported upon ananti-friction or ball bearing similar to the structure 38 and having itslower ring or race 40 rigidly secured to the sleeve 30 and. its upperring or race rigidly secured to the underside of the member 3| so as torotate therewith upon the balls 4| of the bearing. This bearing may beof any other suitable form, or it may be entirely omitted.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings, one end of the chain or cableM for raising and lowering the hoist may be, secured by any suitable wayto the sleeve 30, such as by a bracket or lateral member 43 rigidlyfastened to and extending laterally from the upper end of the sleeve 30.In this way, the chain or cable l4 may extend upwardly along the side ofthe column in spaced parallel relation thereto, as, indicated in Fig. 1.

The chain or cable 14 passes, near theupper end of the column I0, over apulley 44 rotatably mounted upon the beam l3 adjacent thecolumn 10, thenhorizontally along the beam and over a second, similarly mounted pulley45, and thence downwardly to an operating mechanism of-any suitable sortby which power may be applied to the chain for-operating the platforml8.

The power applying mechanism shown in the drawings is of a well knowntype, and since it forms no part of the invention, per se, it need I notbe described in detail. This mechanism is such that the hoist platformmay be actuated by hand to raise and lower the same between the floorand the window and may be locked to hold the platform in raisedpositionor in any intermediate position, if desired.

The mechanism shown includes a hand cran or wheel and suitable gearing5i disposedbe tween the wheel 50 and a sprocket or drum 5! over whichthe chain 1 4 passes to move the chain in one direction or another byappropriate manipulation of the hand wheel. Locking means 53 under thecontrol of a hand lever 54 is provided '5 for securing the chainagainst'movement to'hold the platform in any position into which it ismoved 1 .1

It will be noted that since the chain I4 is connected to the bracket atone side of the column ID, the sleeve 30 is substantially prevented fromturning about the column I'D, since the pull of the chain in a verticalline directly over its connection with the bracket 43 is such that thesleeve 30 will be maintained in approximately the same relative positionon the column In at all times. r

However, by theprovision of-one or both ball bearing supports betweenthe sleeve and the platform, the latter may be easily and freely turnedupon and relatively to the sleeve 30 and column ID. I

Assuming the platform l8 to be in the lower a position shown in Fig.1,and part of its periphery close to the wall a and therefore, relativelyless accessible than that portion of the platform which is diametricallyopposed to'that part near the wall, a can or container C, for example,may be placed upon the platform at the side thereof remote from thewall, where ample room is available for doing this in an easy andconvenient way. After a'can has been so-placed, a slight push willenable the platform to be rotated so as to bring another part of theplatform in position to receive another container. This procedure may berepeated until the platform'isfully loaded, whereupon the powermechanism may be manipulated to raise the platform to the window ledge cand then the power mechanism can be locked to hold the platform in thisposition. The operator may now ascend the ladder e and pass through thewindow to the sidewalk outside, where it will be seen that the can orretainer C which is on the platform nearest the Window can be easilyreached and removed through the window, The platform may now be easilyrotated so as to bring thenext container, or any desired container,close to the window for removal, and this procedure may becontinued'until all of the cans or containers are removed. Obviously thereverse procedure may be carried out when returning the empty cans C tothe basement by passing each can successively into the window andplacing it on the platform, and turning the platform alternately withthe placing of the cans thereon until all are in position. The operatormay now pass in through the window, descend the ladder and operate thepower mechanism to lower the platform to the floor, where the cans maybe removed.

It will be noted that the braces 32, as shown particularly in Fig. 2,are so disposed as to divide the platform into a plurality of areas ofsimilar size, each of which areas, in this case, are such as toconveniently accommodate an ash can C. By this arrangement, the bracesdefine like areas so that no trouble is encountered in placing the cansor articles in proper position on the platform. Also by arranging thebraces in this way, the articles or containers constituting a load maybe symmetrically disposed about the axis of the platform and column,thus assuring a substantially uniform distribution of the load.

To facilitate the passage of the cans, containers, or other articles ineither direction through the window 17, I may provide a horizontal plateor inwardly extending member 56, which I secure upon the ledge c of thewindow I), so that its inner edge 5| may overhang the wall a and extendclose to the adjacent peripheral portion of theplatform I8. In thearrangement shown, since the platform I8 is of circular form, the edge5| of the plate 50 is preferably formed of approximately correspondingcurvature, so that when the platform l8 ismoved into the plane of theplate 50, the top surface of the platform I8 and corresponding face ofthe plate 5| form a substantially continuous surface over which the cansor articles may be moved from the platform out through the window, orvice versa. The provision of a plate similar to the plate 50 has aparticular advantage when, due to inside obstructions or other reasons,it is found to be desirable to place the platform l8 at a short distancefrom the wall a.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hoist, a stationary upright column, a tubular supporting memberslidably engaging about said column for up and down movements thereon, ahorizontal platform having a hole at its axis through which said columnextends, means for raising and lowering said tubular member on saidcolumn, and means for rotatably supporting said platform on said tubularmember for horizontal rotation about the axis of said platform andrelatively to said column.

2. In a hoist, a stationary upright column, a sleeve slidably embracingsaid column, a horizontal platform having a hole through which saidcolumn and said sleeve extend, means for raising and lowering saidsleeve and said platform together relatively to said column, and a ballbearing operatively disposed between said platform and said sleeve forenabling said platform to be rotated relatively to said column.

3. In a hoist, a stationary, upright column, a horizontal platformhaving a central hole through which said column extends, means forraising and lowering said platform relatively to said column, equallyspaced radially disposed members defining like areas on said platformwithin which articles may be symmetrically placed to form a lcad'whichis uniformly disposed about the axes of said column and platform, andmeans for rotatably supporting said platform relatively to said column,so that said platform may be turned to successively load said articlesthereon from a position at one side of said platform when in its lowerposition, and to successively bring said articles one after another to apredetermined unloading position when said platform is raised.

4. In a hoist, a stationary upright column, a tubular supporting memberslidably engaging about said column for up and down movements thereon, ahorizontal platform having a hole through which said column extends, aball bearing disposed between said platform and the lower portion ofsaid tubular member, a ring surrounding said member at a distance abovesaid platform, a second ball bearing disposed between said ring and saidmember, and radial braces extending between said ring and said platform,whereby said platform may be rotated about said member and said columnand reinforced against stresses from loads upon said platform.

5. Hoisting mechanism including a stationary upright column, asubstantially horizontal ledge for loading and unloading laterallydisposed at a distance above the lower end of said column, a horizontalplatform having a central hole through which said column extends, meansfor shifting said platform in opposite directions lengthwise of saidcolumn whereby it may be positioned in the plane of said ledge, andmeans for rotatably supporting said platform relatively to said column,

whereby said platform may be turned to bring different portions thereofnext to said ledge for loading and unloading.

6. In a hoist, an upright column, a member slidably mounted on theexterior of said column for elevation and descent thereon, anapproximately horizontal platform mounted on said member for elevationand descent therewith and rotatable on said member about an upright axispassing approximately centrally of the platform, and means connected tosaid member for causing its elevation and descent on said column.

.7. In a hoist, a stationary, upright column, a horizontal platformhaving a hole vertically therethrough at approximately its center,through which said column extends, a member slidable vertically on theexterior of and guided by said column and mounting said platform forrotation about the upright axis of said column, and means for raisingand lowering said member and through it said platform, whereby saidplatform in all positions in its elevation and descent will be inapproximately concentric relation to said column, and may be rotatedabout said column as an axis to position any peripheral zone of theplatform in any unloading position about said column.

8. In a hoist, a stationary, upright column, a horizontal platformhaving a hole vertically therethrough at approximately its center,through which said column extends, a member slidable vertically on theexterior of and guided by said column and mounting said platform forrotation about the upright axis of said column, means for raising andlowering said member and through it said platform, whereby said platformin all positions in its elevation and descent will be in approximatelyconcentric relation to said column, and may be rotated about said columnas an axis to position any peripheral zone of the platform in anyunloading position about said column, and upstanding elements disposedon said platform, approximately radially of said axis and approximatelyequally spaced horizontally about said platform, for defining platformareas of approximately equal size so that when articles of equal weight,to be elevated or lowered, are placed in all of said areas, the load onthe platform will be uniformly distributed about said axis.

9. In a hoist, an upright, stationary column, a member surrounding, andslidably fitting said column and guided thereby in vertical movements, ahorizontal platform disposed symmetrically about said column and mountedon said member for rotation about the upright axis of said column, andmeans for elevating and lowering said member on said column.

10. In a hoist, an upright, stantionary column, a sleeve fitted over andengaging the exterior of said column andslidable vertically thereon, ahorizontal platform having an approximately central hole from face toface thereof and through which said sleeve extends, and rotatablysupported by the lower end of said sleeve for rotation about the uprightaxis of said sleeve, a collar rotatably fitting said sleeve ata pointabove said platform and straps connecting said collar to said platformat a substantial distance outwardly from said sleeve, whereby tilting ofsaid platform on said sleeve by loads unequally placed on said platformwill be resisted, and means for elevating and lowering said sleeve andthrough it said platform.

11. In a hoist, an upright, stationary column, a sleeve fitted over andengaging the exterior of said column and slidable vertically thereon, ahorizontal platform having an approximately central hole from face toface thereof and through which said sleeve extends, and rotatablysupported by the lower end of said sleeve for rotation about the uprightaxis of said sleeve, a collar rotatably fitting said sleeve at a pointabove said platform, and straps connecting said collar to said platformat a substantial distance outwardly from said sleeve, whereby tilting ofsaid platform on said sleeve by loads unequally placed on said platformwill be resisted, means on said sleeve for resisting movement of saidcollar downwardly thereon when said platform is loaded, and means forelevating and lowering said sleeve and through it said platform.

CHARLES K. ERNST.

